Equipment for use with multitrack magnetic tape records



B. ROBERTS Feb. 2, 1954 EQUIPMENT FOR USE WITH MULTITRACK MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1947 Z INVENTOR BY g W 44AM ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1954 B. ROBERTS 2,668,059

EQUIPMENTFOR USE WITH MULTITRACK MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDS Filed April 26, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. ROBERTS Feb. 2, 1954 EQUIPMENT FOR U E WITH MULTITRACK MAGNETIC TAPE RECORDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 26, 1947 IN ENTOR ATT RNEYfi Patented Feb. 2, 1954 EQUIPMENT .FQR .U SE WITH .MULTITBACK 'IMAGNELEIC TAPE RECORD Bruce :Roberts, iBhilatlelphia, Pa., assignor -t"-Il=he international Electronics ;Company, lihiladelrhia, 38a," .e icorizoration of il ennsvlvania Ap cation Aprilizfi, 94.7, "SerialjNo.'7 44;273

(o1. 52.74am

This invention relates .to ,eguipment {fer use with elongated magnetic records, especially in't-he form of tape records of appreciable width. The invention is particularly concerned with mechanism for handling and translating such tape records, ,fOr instance &fi8Xlb1f t&13B record comprising a paper tape carrying a coating with magnetizable particle dispersed :therein.

One of the primary objects of themvention is to provide equipment of thegeneral type referred to above adapted to utilize a tapefor recordings of relatively great length, i. e,, recordings requiring considerable time for playback. As an example it-is contemplated thatthe equipment ay s fo h rec rdinsendr ay a k of literature of extended length, even of tbook length, which is of especial advantage for a v ri y of pii p s uch a duca cna ipu fp ses n for the e er ainmen f ,theihlind.

Oth r objects .o the invention include anov rr n m nt f tape handlin and dr vin .devices which are of --cutstandine structura .simplieityand whichtare e p le fin st ccnv ni nt operation by the user of the equipment.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention automatic means are provided for re.- peatedly reversing the direction of translation of a tape andfor concurrently advancingamagnetic scanning cievice stepwise across ,the .tape, to provide for-the successive scanningo'f .aimultiplicity of paralleltraclrs onthetape.

Still further the invention provides 8,. I l0JV1,QQI1- trol system for automatically coordinating various of the operations of the machine, as ,will further appear.

,How the ioregoing, together with other objects and advantages are attained will appear more fully from the following description referring tn the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view, with parts .shown {in horizontal section, of a machine constructed-according to the invention;

Figure 2 isa vertical sectional rviewitaken-substantially as indicated by the section ,line 2- 2 on Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view .of cert ain parts, especially drive and control parts, :the View being takensubstantiallyias indicated bythe line ;3m-;3 on EigureZ;

Fi ure r i a vert cal sectional gview taken .as indicated :by .the section :line i i-iii ion Figure 11-;

,Figure .5 :is a view .of certain :details .taken as indicated by the line *5" on Figure *3 :and

Figure 8 is-aschematic view of certain of the 2 control circuits and parts of the machine with which the circuitsa-re associated.

Referring -first to Figures 1 and the =machine is built up ona pai-r of plates l and -'8, which are interspaced and supported by posts 9. The-machine is adapted to receive'a pair ofta-pereels H) and l, which are advantageous-1y of width adapted to carry a fairly broad tape, for instance a tape equivalent to the width :of the --standard 35 mm. moving picture him. The reels are arranged to be removably mounted upon reelspindies ii! and is which are extended downwardly through the top plate =7, elongated apertures 44 and 15 being provided in *the'top plate for this purpose. "The-spindles are carried by a doubleended lever is pivoted for oscillation about the vertical pivot W. 'The reels are adapted to be driven by drive mechanism described herehelow.

{The feed path of a tape '1' between the reels is-defmedby apairof fixed-guide posts is and re and by the tape driving capstan Z0 and the cooperating guide rollers E i-Bil, Upper and lower tape guiding flanges Elia-{Mia (the .upper one being removed in the illustration of Figure 1') serve to define the path or" reed of the tape edgewise =thereoi'. Theguide rollers E i-21 are mounted in the manner described herebelow and serve to maintain the tape in frictional engagement with the driving capstan 2i} over an appreciable portion of the periphery of the capstan, the capstan having a surfacing witha high 00- efficient of friction to provide against slippage of the tape thereon. This capstan constitutes the element serving to establish the rate and direction of feed of the tape between the reels iii and l l.

The capstan is :mounted on a shaft .22 which also carries a -drive :drum 23 against the peripheral flange of which various of the drive elements now to be described are adapted to cooperate.

Thedriving motor is indicated at Z Lthis-motor being arranged with its shaft 25 extended generally vertically, the motor, however, being carried --by a pair of pivots 126-26 supported :by standards Eli-2i projecting upwardly from the lower-or base plate 8. Pivots 2% provide a gen.- erally horizontal axis about which the motor as a whole may oscillate for the purpose of reversing the direction of drive.

Oscillation of the motor "is adapted to bring the motor shaft '25 alternatively into engagement with one I or the other of the drive pucks "28 and 28. The drive puok i8 is carried .by a pivoted arm 39 and hes a vfriction surface 23.! adapted ,to

engage the external surface of the drive drum 23. Similarly, the puck 29 is carried by a pivoted arm 3% and has a drive surface 32 adapted to engage the internal surface of the drive drum 23.

As best seen in Figure 3, when the motor is oscillated the pucks 28 and 29 serve respectively to drive the drum 23 in opposite directions. A spring 33 may be provided to normally urge the arm 39 in a direction retaining engagement of puck 28 with the drive drum 23. By the foregoing drive mechanism the capstan 20 is alternatively driven in either direction and it may be noted that the direction of rotation of the motor shaft (see the arrow in Figure 3) is such as to provide a self-energizing action in either direction of drive, i. e., the relation of the motor shaft and drive pucks to the drive drum 23 is such that in either direction of drive the driving force tends to tighten the frictional engagement of the intermediate driving puck with the drive drum 23. This is of importance in maintaining stability of drive, i. e., constant velocity drive, and thereby eliminating the effect known in the trade as wow.

The reel spindles l2 and I3 carry frictional drive members 34 and 35, respectively, which upon oscillation of lever l6 are adapted to be brought into engagement with the external surface of the drive drum 23.

During operation of the machine, the tape is adapted to be scanned by the magnetic scanning device or head 36, this head preferably being designed to be capable of use either for recording purposes or for playback. As seen in Figure l the head is arranged along the path of the tape between the capstan 20 and the guide post is and is located on the same side of the tape as the capstan 2E3. Interengagement of the tape with the scanning device is maintained by means of a yielding backing pad 31 which is carried by a spring 31a, in turn mounted on a support 38 pivoted to the top plate I of the machine by means of the horizontal pivot 39 (see particularly Figure 4). This backing member 33 also serves to yieldingly carry, as by spring 43, the pair of rollers 2l-2l above referred to which are arranged to maintain engagement of the tape with the driving capstan. The device 38 is so arranged that the action of gravity tends to maintain the interengagement of the backing pad 33 with the tape opposite to the head 36 and also to maintain guide rollers 21-2! in engagement with the tape in the region of the drive capstan 20. The pivot 39 for the device 38, however, also permits this device to be swung away from the head 36 and the capstan 23, whereby to provide a wide opening or channel in which the tape may conveniently be threaded. Spring pressed catches such as shown at M, having a snap action, may be used to aid in retaining the member 38 in its operating position.

Attention is now called to the mounting of the recording-reproducing head 36, which mounting is best shown in Figure 4. As there seen, the head is carried by a vertically shiftable post 42 having a rack 43 at one side thereof with which the pawl 44 is arranged to cooperate. Pawl 44 is pivoted at 45 to a lever 46 which in turn is pivoted to a fixed part at 41. A spring 48 urges lever 43 away from the rack 43 and a Spring 49 acts to draw the pawl 44 toward the lever 46 to the limit of motion permitted by the stop 55. This pawl device (including the pawl 44 and lever 46) are adapted to be actuated to raise the post 42 stepwise, the actuating mechanism including a solenoid 5| having an armature 52 adapted to drive the tappet 53 toward the right so as to cause the pawl to engage a tooth on rack 43 and raise the post 42 one notch. Vertical positioning of the post 42 is established by a series of teeth 54 with which a detent 55 is adapted to engage, the detent being urged into engagement with the teeth by a spring 56.

Operation of the above described mechanism for raising the scanning head stepwise is coordinated with the mechanism for reversing the reel drive and the capstan drive, the means providing such coordination being described below with particular reference to Figure 6.

As seen in Figures 1, 3 and 5, the oscillatable lever I6 which carries the reel spindles l2 and I3 is adapted to be shifted by means of the horizontally extending rod 51. A spring 53 associated with this rod and reacting between an abutment 59 at the end of the rod and a fixed part 69 normally urges the lever 13 to that position in which the drive wheel 34 on spindle I2 is in engagement with the drive drum 23 and the drive wheel 35 on spindle I3 is disengaged from the drive drum 23. Shifting of the rod 51 in the opposite direction (against the action of spring 58) is effected by means of a solenoid 6i (see particularly Figures 3 and 4) The armature 62 of this solenoid is connected with one end 33 of a lever pivoted at 64, the other end of this lever being notched as at 65 to engage an arm 68 which is fixed on a shaft Bl mounted by means of a bracket 68. Shaft 67 also carries an arm 69 which is forked at its upper end to embrace shift rod 5'! and to engage sleeve 10 which is slidable on the shift rod 5']. As seen in Figure 3 the shift rod 51 has a collar H secured thereto and a spring 12 is interposed between the collar H and the sleeve 70. Actuation of the solenoid 6| causes swinging of lever arm 53 about the pivot 64, and this motion is transmitted through arms 66 and 69 to the sleeve 10 and from there through spring 12 to collar H and thus to the shift rod 5'], the motion being transmitted in a direction in opposition to the return spring 58 and thereby causing the lever [B which carries the reel spindles to shift in the opposite direction. This motion disengages the drive wheel 34 from the drive drum 23 'and engages drive wheel 35 with the drum, thereby shifting the drive from one reel to the other.

The shaft 61 above referred to also carries an arm '13 which is apertured at its free end to receive a pin 74 secured to and projecting from the motor 24 (see also Figure 2). Motion of this arm 73 thus also tilts the motor shaft 25 to bring it into engagement with intermediate drive puck 28. The engagement of the motor shaft 25 with puck 29 is also yieldingly maintained by the return spring 58, above described, which is associated with the shift rod 51.

It may here be mentioned that certain of the drive elements, especially the drive wheels 34 and 35 for the reel spindles and the operating surfaces of the pucks 28 and 29 are advantageously surfaced with a material having a relatively high coefficient of friction. This aids in providing stability of drive. With regard to the drive it is further pointed out that the reel drives tend to overrun the capstan drive, so as to maintain the tape under some slight tension. The drive of the tape by the capstan, however, is controlling, and slippage occurs in the reel drives between the drive drum 23 and the friction wheels 34 and 35.

solenoid l5 iis provided to retain the manatnre :52 :of iSOIBHOid '56! iin the right ihand position ifwhen' viewedas in Figure-4).. Solenoid t5 "has ania-rmature 51:6 with-a tooth :yieldingly'urged toward :the :armature 62 by a spring 18. Armature 62 :isnotched as :at 1:9 and the tooth =1 of armature :16 is adapted to engage :in this notch when the armature 43-2 is shifted to the right. ill h-is'serves to retain the armature :62 in the ;position in which the drive wheel 35 for tape :reel M .is in engagement with the drivedrum "23 :and in which the motor shaft is in engagement with drive puck '28. The operation :and control of-the various idEViCBS described-above is discussed herebelow with particular reference to the diagram .ofiFi-gure 6. First notephoweven that tguideposts I8 and l 9 are preferably :formed of electrical insulating material and that each post carries a series of four contact members 180, .8 l 82, B3 and 8A, 85,-86, 431.

As shown in Figure 6, toward each end of the tape II, the .tape carries -,a contact piece, for :instance :a piecepf metal foil .adhesively secured .to the tape, ,as indicated at :88 and B9, and.adapted to cooperate respectively with the series .of contacts 80-83 v and 84- 81.

Contacts 80 and '8; are interconnectedand are also coupled with wire 90 which isassociated with one sideeof the power supply line. Contacts ill and B5 are interconnected andalso coupled with the .wire ,9! which is extended to one terminal of the head actuating solenoid 5!. Contacts .82 and 8B are likewise interconnected and .are associated with wire 90 abovereferred to. Contact 83 is connected by wire 192 with one iterminalcf solenoid .15; and contact id? is connected by Wire .93 with one terminal oisolenoid dil. Thecther terminals of the three solenoids, 5i, ii: and iii, areiall connected with the other side .of .thepower supply line, .as is plainly shown, The drivin motor 2.4 also receives current from .thesup-ply line, and ashutofi switch Ed is ,provided.

In considering the diagram .of Figure 6, it is assumed .thatthe tape .hasbeenrunninginthedirectionindicated by the arrow .and thatsubstantially all of .the tape has been wound .up on reel in (:Figure 1) Moreover, as shown, the tape contact element .89 is approaching theser'ies of contacts 84- 81. .Upon reaching these contacts, the -.contact element .89 completes various of the control circuits, as follows:

.Thecircuit through wire 9.! .andsolenoidti ,lS completed, thereby actuating the armatur 5.5.2 and raising the post 12 one notch, thus aisoiliftinglthescanningrhead 3'6 onetrack. The circuit including wire .93 and solenoid .61 is completed, thereby moving the armature .52 :to the right .and causing engagement of tooth 11 :in thenotch .19. Thisreverses the drive mechanisms .forthetape reels and .for the tape driving capstan and initiates .transmission of the tape .inthe reverse direction.

'It is here -noted that the tape contact element 819 Zhasportions of different dimensionaxially of the tape. This is provided to ensure adequate time of .energization .of the solenoid .5! to raise the scanning head to the succeeding track. By variously shaping and ,proportioning the tape contact elements the time oi energizationntthe solenoids and the sequence of energization thereof may be regulated.

Uponreversal of the direction of translation of thetape as referred to shortly above, the tapeis wound up on reel H (seeHF-igure .1) and toward the 'end of this run of the tape, .the tape contact el'ementxflilacooperates with thecontacts B0 to '83, with lthe following effects:

'Theicircuit including wirera'l and solenoid 51 is again .energizedtto raise the scanning head :to :the next track. The circuit including wire 92 and solenoid al15is energized whereby to lift thearmature l6 and :thus disengage tooth H from the notch whereupon the return spring .58 moves the sarmaturc :62 to the left, bringing the drive parts hack :to the position illustrated ;in :Figures d and .3. .Another .run off the :tape :now takes :placerfrom reel I to reel l0.

Thesuccessivereversaiin direction of scanning continues a multiplicity of times, it being contemplated that in a typical equipment :of the character described at least ten sideehye'side tracks may ,be scanned .on :a tape of :a width equivalent tothatof the 35 mm. .motion'pictnre -fi1-m. In this'way, even with tape reels .of relatively small diameter, for instance three inches to three and :one-half inches, iupwards .Iof an hours recording -may readily be carried ;on :a single tape.

It may be noted that if desired the armature 162 of solenoid 6:! may beprovided with an intermediatenotch n'which may cooperatewithtonth 11 of the armature it upon manual shifting of the armature 62. This provided :so that .ii desiredthe drive mechanisms may be set in neutral, i. e., a-setting in which neither of the reel-driving wheels 34 and 35 is inengagement withthe :drive d'lllll1f23 and'in which the'motor shaftZE-is disengaged-from both of the pucks28 and 29.

:I claim:

'1. Equipment for use with magnetic tape records, {comprising a pair oi tape :reels between whicha tape record is adapted to'beied, a tape driving :capstan at one side of the path of iced oia tape betweenthe reels, a'magnetic scanning device at the same side of the path of iced ofza tape, and displacea'bly mounted tape backing means at the opposite side of the path of a tape including a backing element positioned to .engage a tape opposite to the driving oapstanior retaining .a tape .in engagement with the driving capstan, the backing means further including .a backing element connected with the first .backing :element to move unitarily therewithand .positioned toengageatape opposite to the scanning device EfOI retaining ;a tape in engagement with thewsca-nning device.

2. Equipment for use with magnetic tape records, comprising a pair of tape reels z-between which attaperecord'is adaptedto be :ied, atape driving capstan atone side of the path of feed of a tape between the reels, a magnetic scanning device at thesame side of the pathof feed ofa tape, and displaceably mounted tape backing means-at the opposite side of the path of a tape for retaining a-tape in engagement witlrthe driving capstan and with the scanning device, the tape backing means comprising a unitarily .displaceable backing device carrying abacizing part adapted to cooperate with .the driving capstan and a backing partadaptedto cooperate with the scanning device.

.3. A constructionaccording to claimz in which the .backing part cooperating with the driving capstan comprises tape guide means adapted .to provide for engagement of a tape with .a substantial ,portion of the periphery .of the .driving capstan.

A. .A construction according .toclaiin .Zin which thehacking part cooperating with therscanning device is yielding to provide for intimate interengagement of a tape and the scanning device.

5. A construction according to claim 2 in which the unitarily displaceable backing device is pivotally mounted for swinging movement away from the driving capstan and the scanning device to facilitate threading of a tape.

6. Equipment for use with magnetic tape records, comprising a pair of tape reels between which a tape is adapted to be fed, a tape driving capstan at one side of the path of feed of a tape between the reels, tape guide means at the opposite side of said path providing for engagement of the tape with a substantial portion of the periphery of the capstan, and mounting mechanism for the guide means including a mounting device and a mounting pivot therefor, the axis of the mounting pivot being extended transversely of the axis of the capstan and being onset axially of the capstan from said portion thereof to provide for swinging displacement of the guide means away from the capstan to thereby facilitate threading of a tape in the machine.

7. A construction according to claim 6 in which the guide means comprises a yieldingly mounted uide element.

8. Equipment for use with magnetic tape records, comprising a pair of tape reels between which a tape is adapted to be fed, tape translat ing means operable to effect feed of the tape in either direction between said reels including means for alternatively driving the tape reels comprising a rotatable element having internal and external cylindrical driving surfaces, a pair of intermediate drive members adapted respectively to engage said internal and external driving surfaces, and a rotative driving member, said members being relatively shiftable to provide for alternative drive from the driving member through either one of the intermediate members to said rotatable element.

9. A construction according to claim 8 in which the driving member is shiftable to alternatively engage one or the other of the intermediate drive members.

10. A construction according to claim 9, further including a motor, and in which said driving member comprises the motor shaft.

11. Equipment for use with magnetic tape records, comprising a pair of tape reels between which a tape is adapted to be fed, tape translating means operable to effect feed of the tape in either direction between said reels, a magnetic scanning device shiftably mounted to scan different tracks on a record, an electrical control device for reversing the direction of tape translation, an electrical control device for shiftin the scanning device, and separate control circuits for said control devices each including contact elements adjacent the path of the tape and adapted to be interconnected by contact means carried by the tape.

12. A construction according to claim 11 and further including contact means carried by the tape, the contact means adapted to cooperate with contact elements for one of said circuits being extended lengthwise of the tape a greater distance than the contact means adapted to cooperate with contact elements for the other of said circuits.

13. In a machine for use with magnetic tape records and having a pair of reels between which a tape record is adapted to be fed, a rotative tape translating element adapted to engage a tape in its path between said reels, 2. drive member rotative with said element and drive mechanism for said drive member comprising a pair of rotative members both rotatable in the same direction, said drive member having internal and external drive surfaces with which the members of said pair are adapted to cooperate, respectively and alternatively, to thereby provide for alternative rotation of said drive member in opposite directions.

14. Equipment for use with magnetic tape records, comprising a pair of tape reels between which a tape is adapted to be fed, a pair of drive members connected respectively with the two reels, a rotative driving member, and a common support for the reels and the drive members associated therewith, the support being pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to and between the reel axes to provide for alternative engagement of one drive member or the other with the driving member.

15. A construction according to claim 14 and further including a tape translating capstan, the said driving member being rotative with the capstan, together with controllable means for rotating the driving member and capstan in either direction.

16. Equipment for use with magnetic tape records adapted to be reversibly translated between a pair of reels, comprising a magnetic scanning head located to engage such a tape record in its path of movement between the reels, mounting means for the scanning head providing for stepwise shiftin movement of the head to successively register with a series of side-by-side scanning tracks, drive mechanism for the reels com prising a unidirecticnally rotative motor shaft and drive elements having friction drive surfaces, one such surface through which one reel is driven being an internal cylindrical surface and another such surface through which the other reel is driven being an external cylindrical surface, and the drive elements including two intermediate elements for respectively interconnecting said internal and external surfaces With the motor shaft and thereby provide for drive of the reels in opposite directions, the motor shaft and said intermediate elements being relatively shiftable to provide for alternative engagement of the intermediate elements and thereby alternatively drive one reel or the other, and mechanism coordinating the stepwise shifting movements of the scanning head with the relative shifting movements of the motor shaft and intermediate elements and providing for head shift from track to track with each reversal of tape translation.

17. Equipment for use with elongated magnetic records comprising, in combination with a pair of reels between which a record is adapted to be fed, mechanism for alternatively driving the reels to wind up a record on either of them including a driving motor positioned with its axis generally paralleling the axes of the reels and having a rotative frictional driving member coaxial with the motor axis, drive transmissions for the respective reels including two drive elements having peripheral friction driving surfaces positioned at different sides of the driving member with their axes generally paralleling the motor driving member, and a pivot mounting said motor with its driving member for oscillative movement about an axis spaced from and extended transversely of the axis of said driving member to alternatively frictionally engage the said driving member with said drive elements.

18.. Equipment; for use; with magnetic tape. rec. orda, comprising, in combination with: apair of uprightspaced; and; parallel: reel. mounting spindles for supporting a. pair ofreels; between whicha: tape. recordis adapted to: be: fech, spaced guides establishing a tape teed path including a taperun' extended generally parallel: to the plane con taining; the, axes of; the reel spindles and offsettoioneside: of'said plane-toward the front of the machine, a magnetic; scanning head; positioned at the inner or' back. side of said; run between said spaced guides, backing means engageable: with a tape to hold: the tape in scanning engagementw-iththescanninghead, the backing; meansbeing positioned at: the outer. or. frontside of. said. run of the tape and includin a pivoted mount for: the backing means having a pivotala-xis extended; horizontally to. provide: for frontward and downward pivoting; of. the backing de.-- vice awayfrom the-scanning, head ina. direction toward the front: ofthe machine to facilitate": threading. of. a tape record betweenthe scanning head and: backing device.

19. Equipment for use with. elongated magnetic tape: records: adapted tobe fed between apair of tape reels, comp-rising a pair. ofreel supporting spindles arranged on spaced parallel uprightaxes; mechanism for driving the reels including atwheel for drivir-igv one reel spindle and a secondwheel for driving, the. other reel spindle, said wheels also: being mounted on: spaced parallel up right axes and eachhaving' a. peripheral friction driving surface and being mounted to rotate inthe same horizontal plane, a driving motor lo-- cated. belowsaid wheels with itsv axis extended generally upright in: the region. between said wheels, the motor having a power delivery element coaxial withthe motor axis andlocated be-- tween and in the plane of the peripheral friction driving surfaces of said wheels, the diameter of the-power driven element of the motor being less than the distance between the peripheral friction driving surfaces of said wheels, a pivot mounting saidmotor, the pivot being extended horizontally at an elevation below the peripheral friction driving surfaces of said; wheels and furthei being extended generally transverseto: a plane containing the axe of rotation: of said wheels to provide for tiltingof the motor with its power driven element substantially in said plane, and. controllable mechanism for tilting. the motor to bring its power driven element alternativelyinto. frictional engagement with onev or the other. of the peripheral friction driving'surfaces of said. wheels.

20 Equipment for use with: elongated magnetic tape recordsadapted to be fed between. a. pair of; tape reels,,con1prising a pair of vreel supporting spindles; arranged on spaced parallel axes; abeam on. which. said spindles are journalled, a pivot mount'mg the beam, the pivot being extended parallel to the axes of the spindles and. located intermediate the spindles to provide for conjoint oscillative movement thereof, a rotative frictional drive element fixed to one spindle, a second rotative frictional drive element fixed to the other spindle, and. cooperating. frictional. driving: mechanism. for said. drive elements engageable with said drive. elements to drive said elementsalternatively" according to the direction of oscillative movement-of said-beam;

2=I. Equipment for use with elongated magnetic tape records adapted to be fed between a pair of tape reels, comprising a pair of reel supporting spindles arranged on spaced parallel up- 10 right axes, tape; guiding, driving and scanning mechanism cooperating with a tape in the path of feed between the reels and establishing a tape feed path including a run thereof parallel to a plane-containing. the axes of. the reel-spindles and offset from said plane toward the front of the machine the scanning mechanism including amagnetic: scanning head and backing means arranged at opposite side of a tape in saidv run and the backing means being displaceable for tape threading, the driving mechanism including a tape driving capstan and an idler roller positioned at opposite sides.- of a tape in said run to' engage a tape therebe-tween, the idler roller being: displaceable for tapethreading, and mounting means for the displaceable backing means and for the displaceable idler roller providing for conjoint displacement thereof for tape threadinginsaid run.

22'. Equipmentfor use with elongated magnetic. tape records: adapted. to. be fed! between pair of reels; comprising a pair ofreel. supporting spindies arranged on spaced: upright parallel axes,

tape guiding and scanning mechanism cooperating with a tape in the path of feed: between the reels and establishing a tape feed path including a run thereof parallelv to a plane containin'g'the axes of the reel spindles and offset. therefrom toward the front of the machine, an elongated gate-like member extended across the front of the machine in front of said run of thetape feed path, a horizontal mounting: pivot for said member located at thelower edge thereof and: providing for frontward and downward pivoting of. said member to expose said run of the tape feed path for threading of a tape therein, a. magnetic scanninghead engageable with. a tape in said run of the feed path, the scanning head-being; positioned behind. said run, tapeback-in'g, means mounted on th inner side of saidigatedike member and err-- gageable with a tape in said run to hold the tape I including a run thereof offset to one side of the reel supporting. spindles, the scanning mechanism including a: magnetic scanning head anda resilient. backing: pad arranged to: engage a tape at opposite sidesthereof insaid run, said head. said pad being. displacealole toward and away from each other to" alternatively establish tape. scanning" and tape threading conditions, spring means; for maintaining yielding. engagement. of the tape; between the scanning head and backing padl when said head: and pad v are; conditioned for tape scanning, the. driving. mechanism: including a.- tape: driving capstan and idler roller. positioned a t-opposite sides of a tape; in said: run to. engage a tape therebetween, the: tape driving capstanand: the: idler roller being displaceable toward and away from: each: other to alternatively estab lishtape driving and tape threading conditions, spring means for maintaining yielding engage merit of the tape between the driving capstan and the idler roller when the capstan and roller are conditioned for tape driving, and movable mounting means for parts of said scanning mechanism and of said driving mechanism providing for displacement of the scanning head and backing pad toward and away from each other conjointly with displacement of the driving capstan and idler roller toward and away from each other.

24. Equipment for use with elongated magnetic tape records adapted to be fed between a pair of reels, comprising a magnetic scanning head, a tape-driving capstan, means establishing a path for a tensioned inter-reel length of tape past and adjacent the scanning head, and past and adjacent the capstan but with the tape in passive relationship thereto, a backing pad pressable against the tape opposite the scanning head to maintain intimate engagement of the tape by the scanning head, a roller pressable against the tape opposite the capstan to maintain the tape in driven relationship to the capstan, said backing pad and roller being movable to provide for spacing thereof from the said scanning head and the capstan respectively to thereby establish a condition for tape threading, and means connected with both the backing pad and the roller for conjointly moving them from the tape threading condition into pressing relationships against the tape opposite the scanning head and capstan respectively.

25. In equipment for use with elongated magnetic tape records adapted to be fed between a pair of reels, a first pair of elements comprising a tape-driving capstan and a roller disposed on opposite sides of the tape between the reels, said elements being relatively movable to cause the roller alternatively to effect and not to effect a pressure of the tape into driven relationship to the capstan, a second pair of elements comprising a magnetic scanning head and a backing member disposed on opposite sides of the tape between the reels, said two last-mentioned elements being relatively movable to cause the backing member alternatively to exert and not to exert a pressure of the tape into intimate engagement with the scanning head, a tensioned inter-reel length of tape when not so pressed by the roller and by the backing member passing in a substantially straight first path past all said elements in contact with but undriven relationship to one of said first pair of elements and adjacent the scanning head and when so pressed passing in substantially the same path, and controllable means connected with at least one movabl element of each pair for conjointly causing both the roller and the backing member to alternatively exert and not exert their respective said pressures.

26. In equipment for use with elongated magnetic tape records adapted to be fed between a pair of reels, a first pair of elements comprising a tape-driving capstan and a roller disposed on opposite sides of the tape between the reels, said elements being relatively movable to cause the roller alternatively to efiect and not to efieet a pressure of the tape into driven relationship to the capstan, a second pair of elements comprising a magnetic scanning head and a backing member disposed on opposite sides of the tape between the reels, said two last-mentioned elements being relatively movable to cause the backing member alternatively to establish and release intimate scanning engagement of the tape with the scanning head, and controllable means connected with movableelements of each of said pairs and 12 providing for conjoint movement thereof toward and away from the other elements of said pairs to alternatively establish a tape threading condition and an operating condition.

27. Equipment for use with elongated magnetic tape records adapted to be fed between a pair of reels, comprising a pair of reel supporting spindles arranged on spaced upright parallel axes, tape guiding and scanning mechanism cooperating with a tape in the path of feed between the reels and including elements spaced along the tape feed path and establishing a run thereof offset from a plane containing the axes of the reel spindles toward the front of the machine, a gatelike member in front of said run and extended lengthwise of said run substantially throughout the length thereof, a horizontal mounting pivot for said member located at the lower edge thereof and providing for frontward and downward pivoting of said member away from said run of the feed path to open up a tape loading channel in front of said elements through which said run of the tape feed path is exposed for loading of a tape therein, the tape guiding and scanning mechanism including a magnetic scanning head engageable with a tape in said run of the feed path, the scanning head being positioned behind said run, and tape engaging means mounted on said gate-like member and movable therewith to provide alternatively for establishment and release of scanning engagement of the scanning head with respect to the tape in a sense providing for establishment of the scanning engagement when the gate-like member is pivoted upwardly and rearwardly to a position adjacent said run of the feed path and for release of the scanning engagement when the gate-like member is pivoted forwardly and downwardly to open up the tape loading channel.

BRUCE ROBERTS.

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